Loose Leaf Tea Brew Guide

STEP 1: USE TOP-NOTCH WATER

Hard water can make tea taste overly bitter. If you can, use purified or filtered water to brew your cup of tea, which will reduce any added flavoring and allow you to purely taste the leaves.

STEP 2: SET THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE

Different teas require different temperatures. Black teas (e.g. Assam Black or Darjeeling Second Flush) should be brewed with boiling water, but lighter teas (e.g. Darjeeling First Flush or Darjeeling Green Tea) will taste better in slightly lower temperatures. No worries if you don't have a temperature control kettle -- for green or herbal loose leaf teas, simply let the water cool down for about a minute after boiling before you steep.

STEP 3: MEASURE & STEEP

Add a heaped teaspoon of tea leaves to your tea infuser, and pour in your hot water. Don't have an infuser? Try our mesh, single cup infuser, Food52's tea buoy, or this glass tea pot with a built-in infuser from World Market. Once the water has been poured over the tea, set a timer for 3-5 minutes. A shorter infusion is best for a stronger tea (e.g. Assam Orthodox Black and a longer infusion is better for an herbal tea (e.g. Lemongrass and Ginger or Chamomile Flowers).